BAGHDAD
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Wednesday that the ongoing security operation in the restive Anbar province was almost near conclusion.
"Our battle to protect Iraqis in Anbar is nearing its end," al-Maliki said in a televised speech.
He insisted that the military operation was not targeting the local residents.
"Our proof is that tribesmen and residents have fought by our side," he added.
Last December, the Iraqi army unleashed a wide-scale operation aimed at hunting down Al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Anbar.
However, many local Sunni tribes opposed to the Shiite-dominated government have repeatedly criticized continued civilian causalities.
35 Qaeda-affiliated militants killed in Anbar: Iraq
Thirty-five militants from the Qaeda-linked Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) were killed on Wednesday as part of ongoing operations in the western province of Anbar, the Iraqi Defense Ministry said.
In a statement, the ministry said that the militants were killed by army troops in cooperation with local tribesmen and policemen.
The ministry said that four vehicles laden with machineguns were seized by the army.
No further details were given by the ministry.
There was no comment from the ISIL.
Last December, the Iraqi army has launched a wide-scale operation to hunt down Al-Qaeda-affiliated militants in the Sunni-dominated Anbar province's two main cities – the capital Ramadi and Fallujah.
However, local Sunni tribes opposed to the Shiite-dominated government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki voice anger over continued civilian causalities and have vowed to resist government troops deployed to the area.
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